Gorilla mask wearing student arrested for taunting BLM protesters

Tristan Rettke was charged after trying to provoke BLM protesters while wearing a gorilla mask. (Source: WCYB/Johnson City Police Department)

JOHNSON CITY, TN (WMC) -

An East Tennessee State University student, who dressed up in a gorilla mask during a Black Lives Matter protest, was arrested and charged with civil rights intimidation.

Johnson City Police Department said Tristan Rettke disrupted a BLM protest on ETSU’s campus by wearing a gorilla mask, handing out bananas, and tying a noose around the bananas.

According to WCYB, multiple people on campus took photos of Rettke’s actions, which included walking up to protesters with a burlap sack with a Confederate Flag and marijuana leaf printed on the outside.

Investigators said Rettke stated he heard about the protest on poplar social media site Yik Yak, according to WCYB.

JCPD said Rettke admitted to going to the store to buy rope, bananas, and a gorilla mask. Rettke, who attended the protest with no shoes and an overalls on, stated it was an attempt to provoke the protesters.

As you can imagine, Twitter users were outraged with what Rettke did, calling Rettke disgusting.